Ratoath Harps plain and simple had to win this game if they wanted to avoid a second successive season of relegation. That fear was hugely abundant in the first half as they were well pumped up for this encounter and tore into the league leaders from the start. Kill were not at the races at all and a combination of relaxed attitudes and casualness didn't help. Thrown in on top of this was a Harps team that didn't give them an inch of room on the ball and tactically went to fire into Kill from the first whistle.

Ratoath had speed and energy out on the wings and used this to full effect and started to cause Kill all sort of problems as they failed to deal with this flying tactic. Ratoath got the lead inside 15 minutes when great work down the right flank bore fruit and the resultant cross was smashed home by the left winger. Soon after it was 2 when again they terrorised Kill on the wings and created a good move and finished off inside the box. Kill then cleared off the line and looked all at sea with barely a challenge or a decent passage of play event, it was obvious Kill were absolutely rocked.

Kill then pulled a goal back amid a bit of fortune when a free kick was half blocked by the Harps wall and rebound squirmed through to Alex Lynch who slid home. But before the break Harps grabbed a third from an excellent finish on the right wing. The half time whistle could not of come quick enough and the hair dryer treatment was issued to what was Kill's worst performance of the season.

A different team emerged in the second half and right from the off Alex Lynch nipped in to try and steer around the keeper only to see the ball agonizingly crash off the post. Soon after Kill went close again and the team was unrecognizable from the first half as they were in full control and lay siege on the Harps goal. Ratoath were not going to give up their lead easy and defended well and made it hard for Kill to have any clear cut chances. Great work on 60 minutes from Alex Lynch fed in strike partner Breen and he finished well into the left corner to make it 3-2. Kill were now bombarding the Harps goals and Philip Fitzgerald went close before Breen and Kenna were also denied by great last ditch challenges. Jordan Lynch then crashed the bar and desperate unlucky before Steven Skelton found the side netting. But Ratoath were stubborn and looked dangerous on the break and with 10 minutes to go from an excellent break on the right a delightfully flighted ball was headed in from the centre forward to wrap it up at 4 - 2.

This took the wind out of Kill and the game was done and they did try to still grab another but the clock beat them too it and Ratoath celebrated a great win. The Red N Black must re group now as a unit and never repeat the performance of that first half. It can be used as a positive against Ballyoulster on Saturday and surely the squad will now give it their all to eradicate this loss. A great run has come to an end in that this season this was our first loss in 29 games in all competitions. Its how we respond now that defines a team and see if they are worthy of a title.

Saturday cant come quick enough, Well done again to Ratoath Harps who showed up with a fine big squad and a credit to them when faced with the drop to pull out a great win, no complaints they deserved it.